Can church be bad for your health?

[ILG]

Originally Posted by nahkoe

I get this.

That hug gave me tears in my eyes.

[crakjak]

Originally Posted by coadie

Preachin can really mess with moral health issues.

Take some Prozac to cope with feelings of guilt.

Some preachers, during my childhood, used the fear of hell and then presenting do's and don't's in ways that made it obvious that most folks didn't or couldn't comply with them all.

That is very traumatizing, read some of the history of preachers such as Jonathan Edwards, folks passed out at the fear. Of course, it can be the cause of sever emotional issues. Add to that the Calvinistic teaching that only some are elected to be saved and you have a formula for emotional disaster.

Should preachers preach against sin, absolutely, but they should preach more of the abounding GRACE of GOD!!!!

"Grace does MUCH MORE......!"

[Aquila]

In a way, one could say that the ministry is often less focused on ministering and healing people and the issues they face than they are securing their position, salary, building, or institution.

[coadie]

Originally Posted by crakjak

Some preachers, during my childhood, used the fear of hell and then presenting do's and don't's in ways that made it obvious that most folks didn't or couldn't comply with them all.

That is very traumatizing, read some of the history of preachers such as Jonathan Edwards, folks passed out at the fear. Of course, it can be the cause of sever emotional issues. Add to that the Calvinistic teaching that only some or elected to be saved and you have a formula for emotional disaster.

Should preachers preach against sin, absolutely, but they should preach more of the abounding GRACE of GOD!!!!

"Grace does MUCH MORE......!"

Phil 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

We have to share all the scriptures. It doesn't say that shepherds are to add rules to the list to get to heaven.

: "For by Grace are ye Saved through Faith; and that not of Yourselves: It is the Gift of God. Eph. 2:8"

[crakjak]

Originally Posted by ILG

I had PTSD. But we were sued, had people driving by at 3:00 AM beeping their horn for weeks, people following us, calling the cops on us, someone smashed out my husband's headlights and taillights on his pickup truck and things just too numerous to mention over the course of years. I was traumatized. Not sure a person in a normal church situation is traumatized to the point of getting PTSD. Depends on the situation, I suppose.

Wow, that sounds like North Texas.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by crakjak

Some preachers, during my childhood, used the fear of hell and then presenting do's and don't's in ways that made it obvious that most folks didn't or couldn't comply with them all.

That is very traumatizing, read some of the history of preachers such as Jonathan Edwards, folks passed out at the fear. Of course, it can be the cause of sever emotional issues. Add to that the Calvinistic teaching that only some or elected to be saved and you have a formula for emotional disaster.

Should preachers preach against sin, absolutely, but they should preach more of the abounding GRACE of GOD!!!!

"Grace does MUCH MORE......!"

I do believe there is a place for Hell in biblical teaching... but we live in a "why" society. People don't want to hear scare tactics... they turn them off. People want to know "why" sin is sin. Preachers do well to speak about reaping and sowing. Adultery? Ah... it will destroy your reputation, your witness, everyone's trust in you, your marriage, your relationship with your children, your finances, and ultimately your standing in God. The "whys". Homosexuality will leave you satisfied temporarily... but then comes the guilt, the shame, the betrayal after betrayal, the lonliness, feeling used over and over and over, feeling a slave to impulsive encounters, the fear of disease, actual infection of disease, your relationship with the church, relationship with your family, your relationship with Jesus. The "whys". Sometimes these work far better than the ol' fire and brimstone with this generation.

[crakjak]

Originally Posted by coadie

Phil 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

We have to share all the scriptures. It doesn't say that shepherds are to add rules to the list to get to heaven.:

"For by Grace are ye Saved through Faith; and that not of Yourselves: It is the Gift of God. Eph. 2:8"

Yet many have added extra rules, even whole orgs have done so, as well as holding truth in unrighteousness, when preaching against true sin.

So, why are you so dogmatic against a discussion of such abuse??? I recognize that some folks are "highly sensitive", however to treat these folks as unimportant just because they process information differently is to "hold the truth in unrighteousness".

Jesus himself warns those that mistreat His "little ones"!!!

[ILG]

Originally Posted by crakjak

Wow, that sounds like North Texas.

LOL! Not sure what that means, but it wasn't.

[crakjak]

Originally Posted by Aquila

I do believe there is a place for Hell in biblical teaching... but we live in a "why" society. People don't want to hear scare tactics... they turn them off. People want to know "why" sin is sin. Preachers do well to speak about reaping and sowing. Adultery? Ah... it will destroy your reputation, your witness, everyone's trust in you, your marriage, your relationship with your children, your finances, and ultimately your standing in God. The "whys". Homosexuality will leave you satisfied temporarily... but then comes the guilt, the shame, the betrayal after betrayal, the lonliness, feeling used over and over and over, feeling a slave to impulsive encounters, the fear of disease, actual infection of disease, your relationship with the church, relationship with your family, your relationship with Jesus. The "whys". Sometimes these work far better than the ol' fire and brimstone with this generation.

The teaching of Hell in the traditional sense has NO place in the ministry of reconciliation. Because it has been so badly distorted and abused, the church has an obligation to correct this gross sin against the human race.

I do believe the church as a whole is making adjustments in this area.

[crakjak]

Originally Posted by ILG

LOL! Not sure what that means, but it wasn't.

Never mind, it just sounded like a situation close to home here. Guess it is just as ugly no matter the location.